Diy fishing kayak

[Gregorym38]

Recently got a good deal on a kayak, so now i have one. It is a 2 seater, and a little heavy, but i will make do. I will predominately be fishing alone, so i have to make a way that i can load it onto the car and bring to water by myself. Below is a pic of the kayak. I will have to install rod holders. Anyone have experience? 

[Choporoz]

Best of luck.

[padlin]

You might find some useful info in the Bass Raider thread, a lot of reading though.

 

I'd get a set of flush mounts and put them right behind where you sit.

 

Look into upgrading that seat, put on a paddle holder, and if it were me, an anchor cleat. Anything else can wait till you see what you want.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

Best of luck.

I'm gonna light a candle Sunday...

[the reel ess]

My advice with this kayak is either change out the seat or pad the one in it. After a couple of hours it will torture you. I'd remove one of the seats and center the other one if possible. A couple of flush mount rod holders would be a must. I don't have one but I understand sit in kayaks are not easy to enter and exit. So whatever you can do to stow a couple of rods would help a lot. Good luck.

[Deleted account]

15 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

After a couple of hours it will torture you. 

No, it will torture you right away, but as Torquemada and Vietnamese prison guards knew, incremental "enhanced techniques" (oh wait, no, that was us) are more effective, cigarette?...

[the reel ess]

5 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

No, it will torture you right away, but as Torquemada and Vietnamese prison guards knew, incremental "enhanced techniques" (oh wait, no, that was us) are more effective, cigarette?...

Granted, this is not an ideal fishing kayak. Your dislike for kayaks is well documented. Show me on this doll where the kayak hurt you.

[Deleted account]

8 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Granted, this is not an ideal fishing kayak. Your dislike for kayaks is well documented. Show me on this doll where the kayak hurt you.

LOL. I was not singling out Keowee, I think chiropractors should hand out yaks with their contact info, like pens, keychains and kozees...

[Darth-Baiter]

that kayak in the OP's pic cant be that heavy can it?  i'd put a rope on the front and drag it like a toboggan to the waters edge.  

 

i'm losing weight as much as i kayak.  i dont eat a lot on my kayak, and it's exercise.  there are dudes on bass boats i see that CANT kayak fish. 

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Granted, this is not an ideal fishing kayak. Your dislike for kayaks is well documented. Show me on this doll where the kayak hurt you.

Nah he is just to soft to handle a kayak

Anyways....I wouldn't do anything to it until you paddle it a few times.  All the advice in the world isn't worth anything if you are solving a problem you don't have.  Without actual seat time you won't truly understand where you want something and why.  I have owned many kayaks and each one I go out and paddle and fish with nothing permanently mounted because I want to make sure what I think I want to do and what needs to be done are one in the same.  Lots of internet/armchair kayak fisherman are going to give advice to fix problems that you don't have.

 

Now once you know what problem you are trying to solve then you can find the answers for solving that problem in a multitude of places, with this being one of them as there are quite a few more veteran kayak anglers on here.

 

Have fun and enjoy your time on the water.

[Gregorym38]

34 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Nah he is just to soft to handle a kayak

Anyways....I wouldn't do anything to it until you paddle it a few times.  All the advice in the world isn't worth anything if you are solving a problem you don't have.  Without actual seat time you won't truly understand where you want something and why.  I have owned many kayaks and each one I go out and paddle and fish with nothing permanently mounted because I want to make sure what I think I want to do and what needs to be done are one in the same.  Lots of internet/armchair kayak fisherman are going to give advice to fix problems that you don't have.

 

Now once you know what problem you are trying to solve then you can find the answers for solving that problem in a multitude of places, with this being one of them as there are quite a few more veteran kayak anglers on here.

 

Have fun and enjoy your time on the water.

Completely agreed, but some problems need to be solved before i even get to the water. I will install storage and pole holders later, but my main worry now is wheels and something to mount to my car. I was thinking of talking ratchet straps, putting them through pool noodles then throwing the kayak on top and tying it down. I dont have roof rails or racks. The kayak is about 70 pounds i think, so a little tough to handle myself. But no means  was this designed for fishing, so i will do my best to make it work. I got it for free, so it will do. For wheels i saw people take an egg crate, put pvc pipe through the bottom, then take a metal rod and attach wheels, then just strap it to the bottom. 

[Darth-Baiter]

4 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Completely agreed, but some problems need to be solved before i even get to the water. I will install storage and pole holders later, but my main worry now is wheels and something to mount to my car. I was thinking of talking ratchet straps, putting them through pool noodles then throwing the kayak on top and tying it down. I dont have roof rails or racks. The kayak is about 70 pounds i think, so a little tough to handle myself. But no means  was this designed for fishing, so i will do my best to make it work. I got it for free, so it will do. For wheels i saw people take an egg crate, put pvc pipe through the bottom, then take a metal rod and attach wheels, then just strap it to the bottom. 

if you're launching from an area that is grassy or not to abrasive, drag it.  grass?  easy.

 

to get it to your car, say from your garage:  i have a friend that uses a cheap furniture dolly.  i have surfing buddies that use these straps with built on "pool noodles" that do exactly what you described, so i think it would work.    good luck.  looks like fun.

 

 

[Gregorym38]

Not much storage anove the kayak , so i was thinking of putting an egg crate.  Originally the plan was to bolt it on, but i want it to be easier to take off. Any ideas?

[flyfisher]

5 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Not much storage anove the kayak , so i was thinking of putting an egg crate.  Originally the plan was to bolt it on, but i want it to be easier to take off. Any ideas?

You are going to want to get out in it once or twice before you start raising the center of gravity by mounting a crate on top.  Judging by the picture, that boat isn't going to have the same level of stability as a standard fishing kayak so any added weight should be as low as possible.  Since it is a tandem, I would probably try and move the front seat as far back as a I could and still have room for the crate behind me.

[Choporoz]

My suggestion is not to drill any holes.  And I am one who usually starts drilling within a couple days of getting a new kayak. 

  I acknowledge that I may now be that yak snob. 

   But I can only see this going one of two ways:

1.  You like fishing from a kayak, but you want something different....very soon.

2.  You hate kayak fishing because the seat sucks, the storage sucks, the stability sucks, the handling sucks, theres no place for your paddle, you can't stand, your wife/friend/kid wants to go along because there are two seats.....and you sell your first and last kayak....very soon.

 

You got a good deal?  Great!  Flip it for a profit and get something better for fishing.

[padlin]

3 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

You are going to want to get out in it once or twice before you start raising the center of gravity by mounting a crate on top.  Judging by the picture, that boat isn't going to have the same level of stability as a standard fishing kayak so any added weight should be as low as possible.  Since it is a tandem, I would probably try and move the front seat as far back as a I could and still have room for the crate behind me.

Agree, fit it in the yak, not on top.

[Darth-Baiter]

flyfisher and Choporoz both have my thoughts down to a T.  

 

i hope this kayak is the gateway drug for you into the world of kayak fishing and not your krytonite to the world of kayak fishing. 

[casts_by_fly]

For getting it in and out of the car, if its 70 pounds then just muscle it.  If it's 70 pounds then that's some thick plastic.  In that case, gravel, concrete, grass, etc I'd be dragging it.  if you want some wheels, you can get cheap kayak carts on amazon for under $50.  For a 70 lb kayak they would be fine enough.

 

Don't just pop it onto the roof of your car, that's asking for trouble.  Stick it in the trunk, leave a trunk lid open, strap it down, etc.  If you stick with this kayak then work on a roof rack.

 

First port of call though is getting some seat time in it.  Are the seats movable? If so, I'd take out the front one and move the back one up halfway so its roughly centered.  That will give you a bit of space behind you.

 

Have you been in a kayak before?  That shaped boat isn't very stable if you haven't.  First time out I wouldn't take anything with me.  Just a paddle and PFD.  You're going to be sitting VERY low to the water and I think your butt will be below the waterline.  Don't mount anything on top of it- if you do it will accelerate you going for a swim.  At first it will be fine, but as soon as you start to tip to a side it will push you over if there is any weight to it.

 

I've fished out of kayaks like that before.  It isn't an easy experience.  You have to be very comfortable in a kayak to start.  You will have no room for gear and you'll have to plan accordingly.  Everything will be wet after every trip.  At some point you will dump the boat over so be prepared with a rod leash and no loose gear.  

[Gregorym38]

Those are very good points. I will try it out, see what happens. For now, i will set up the kayak cart and the pool noodles on top, then just give it a try ig. Is a kayak easy to clean? It was abandoned in a stream, so there are branches, dirt, mud, etc. i have fished from a kayak before, but it wasnt built like this one and it was a one person kayak. 

[Bankc]

I wouldn't spend a dime on it.  If it's 70lbs, then it's made of thick plastic, so I wouldn't worry about dragging it (except over concrete or asphalt).  

 

That's not a kayak that was designed to be fished out of. It looks line one of those you rent at a marina.  Those are made to last, and not do much else.  Still, you could probably fish out of it, if you're so determined.  But landing fish, setting the hook, casting, and storing and accessing gear will likely be a challenge.  You'd be better off investing any money you would put into upgrading it, into a savings fund to buy a proper fishing kayak for later on down the road, if you find you really enjoy kayak fishing.  I don't think any amount of money would make it a decent fishing kayak.  

[Gera]

I'm sure people have caught large fish from worst boats, just go for it!!.. but wear a PFD. 

[VolFan]

Most importantly- get a good pfd and wear it. I had a Dagger Delta, which was similarly built to yours, as my first fishing kayak - it had a little smaller cockpit and was a single seater. You have to understand and appreciate that you will tip that boat at some point and set it up accordingly. Take few things and the ones you like, tether or in a floating bag. First - they are easy to clean; a hose and a scrub brush and a little Dawn should get everything off that should come off. I would guess that boat weighs 45 lbs tops once it’s cleaned up. I would take out one seat and make sure you have the foot pegs if there are any. They help you brace and steer in a sit-in. Take it out with one rod and a couple of moving lures, just to get a feel of paddling, orientation of gear, and casting. Do not try to catch fish on your first outing. Don’t do anything stupid on your first outing, just get used to the boat. After a few outings, then decide if and how you want to set your crate. I used to put my stuff up under the front deck - easier to get to and I could wedge it so that when I tipped, it stayed with the boat. You will not be able to do some of the things that the big sit on top plastic one man bass boat yaks do, but free is free and that boat is perfectly functional within its functions.

[DogBone_384]

18 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

so i have to make a way that i can load it onto the car and bring to water by myself.

What kind of car do you have? Does it have a roof rack?

 

Other members offered good advice with two flush mount rod holders, a paddle clamp, and seat padding.  I’d add an anchor pulley & cleat too.

 

Because it’s your first kayak, keep it simple and choose your mods carefully/slowly.

[Koz]

You may have fun paddling around in it, but in my opinion it will be a nightmare to fish from.

 

You could always double down, get two of them, and make yourself a catamaran. ?

[WaterOtter]

I have a tandem kayak very similar that I've fished from solo when I take a buddy and let him use my fishing kayak.  The seats are on rails tucked under the coaming (visible in the picture) so you can loosen plastic screws and slide the back seat out of the way easily and center the front seat.  It's doable and not too bad.

 

Folks above are speaking right - try it out a few times to see if you like, and if you do then post it on Craigslist and put the money towards a fishing kayak.  This one'll do, but it's missing the purpose-built specialization that brings a lot to fishing.  This kayak isn't going to track well, and it won't maneuver well, and until you add an anchor trolley up the side you'll move around while you fish. 

 

I would use an egg crate or 5-gallon buckets and keep them loose.  They won't slide far.  You can lay extra poles down sticking out the back until you figure out your plan.   It's a good starting point for a great series of adventures.